Redemption and Resilience: The Journey of John David Graham

You are not responsible for the circumstances of your birth, but you are responsible for what you do with your life.

Sean’s Monologue: Post Election Reflections

Coup Save America welcomes the remarkable John David Graham, founder of the Good Samaritan Home, a non-profit agency helping people restart their lives after prison. John is also the author of Running as Fast as I Can, a loosely autobiographical, fictionalized story of one man’s journey to overcome an abusive background to find forgiveness and love.

John begins the episode by sharing his incredible life story and the events that led him to open up his home to ex-offenders. Listen to hear how John’s life was turned around when he attended a protest just to meet girls.

Next, John talks about the project he launched in 2001 that has since expanded from his own residence to 19 facilities spanning over 3 counties in Ohio and is helping thousands of men and women reintegrate back into society. John explains post-release control of offenders and how the Good Samaritan Home plays a role with what he calls “habilitation” skills. He describes how he has dealt with the challenge of the “Not in my backyard” mentality, and how it took seven years and a snow blower to get the local community to start waving at them with a whole hand instead of just one finger.

Sean and John discuss the recent election and the concept of hating the system while still loving your neighbor. John, who received a doctorate of Applied Theology late in life, tells us “It has been my work in the street helping broken people restart their lives that has allowed me to maintain my faith.” He talks about Christianity, and how “morality cannot be legislated.” Later in the episode, our “minister without a portfolio” speaks more about his faith and the importance of a religious community vs. his disillusionment with the church.

John shares success stories of the people who have benefited from the services of Good Samaritan Home, and he tells us about his partnerships in the re-entry coalition. He chuckles at how the Good Samaritan Home project is appealing to Democrats because it is morally responsible, but it is appealing to Republicans because it is fiscally responsible.

John tells us about the long process of writing his novel. We watch the trailer for his book, and John describes how he took marketing and promotion into his own hands after old-style publishing failed him. He talks about the theme of his novel – self-forgiveness - and how his main character must be reminded again and again that life is written in pencil and gives us many opportunities to erase and start again.

John goes on to talk about the biggest challenges for people coming out of prison, the power of the Civil Rights movement, and why Texas is a good state to start over. He talks about acceptable vs. unacceptable crimes and tells us that his “you’re here, you need help, how can I help?” philosophy guides him to overlook the “unforgiveable sin” and reach out to everyone equally. John explains how family structures influence a person’s future and how our family structures have changed over time. What are the differences between younger and older people who come out of the prison system? What does “normal” really mean? And could the 60’s generation be to blame for our current high incarceration rate?

John concludes by sharing his continuity plan for Good Samaritan Home. Will his project be able to weather the oncoming political storm? John is very much aware that “the state giveth & the state taketh away.”

To learn more about Good Samaritan Home and the book Running as Fast as I Can, visit John’s website & read his thoughts on Substack:

 https://johndavidgraham.com

https://jo